“I’ve always believed life is about embracing the gifts and rising up to meet the challenges," Schilling, 47, said in a statement. "We’ve been presented with another challenge, as I’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer. (Schilling's wife) Shonda and I want to send a sincere thank you and our appreciation to those who have called and sent prayers, and we ask that if you are so inclined, to keep the Schilling family in your prayers."

The statement did not indicate what type of cancer Schilling has, when he was diagnosed or what his prognosis might be.

Schilling works as a baseball analyst for ESPN.

“Our thoughts are with Curt and his family during this challenging time," the network said in a statement. "His ESPN teammates wish him continued strength in his cancer fight and we look forward to welcoming him back to our baseball coverage whenever he’s ready.”

ESPN planned to make Schilling part of its Sunday Night Baseball broadcast team this season. The network did not announce how the diagnosis would affect those plans.

Two of Schilling's former teammates expressed their support via Twitter: Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester (himself a cancer survivor) and outfielder Shane Victorino.

Schilling pitched in the big leagues from 1988 to 2007, posting 216 wins and making seven All-Star teams. He was co-MVP of the 2001 World Series as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks and MVP of the 1993 NLCS as a member of the Philadephia Phillies. He also was a key member of the 2004 World Series-winning Boston Red Sox.

The righty was the Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year in 2001 and 2002. He finished second in Cy Young balloting both those years and also in 2004.

This is not the first time he and his family have battled health issues.

His daughter, Gabby, took to Twitter Wednesday to ask for prayers for her father.

"So i guess the word is out, if everyone could just keep my dad and family in their prayers it would mean a lot!" she wrote.

Schilling has been in the news recently after the failure of 38 Studios, a video game company he owned in Rhode Island, with the help of a $75 million state loan. The company went bankrupt last year, leaving Rhode Island taxpayers on the hook to pay back tens of millions of dollars.